Providence

William Schaff, “Providence_” (detail), 2003. Museum purchase: Gift of the Artists’ Development Fund of the Rhode Island Foundation.

Artist QuestionnaireMany of the artists included in Locally Made responded to a series of questions about their materials and process. A selected response follows.

Title:Providence

Media: Scratchboard. Using a white clay-based board that is covered with a black ink, I used an X-acto knife to scratch away at the black, exposing the white. A drawing, but the opposite of the way most folks think to draw. I created light, instead of shadow, to make the shapes in the piece.

Location of residence: Warren, Rhode Island

Location of work (studio/office): Warren, Rhode Island

Process: I wanted to try and capture some of the things I loved about the arts in the city of Providence. There is a portrait of the artist C.W. Roelle. We see AS220, the Big Nazo gang, Lightning Bolt, the art of Jim Drain, Leif Goldberg, Brian Ralph, Alec Thibodeau, Jungil Hong, Alec Redfearn, Peter Fuller, Brian Chippendale. We see the dogs I lived with then (now one is dead). It was all inspired by a photograph of a praying mantis a friend of mine sent me. She used to live in Providence as well, and she would always get these amazing creatures in her yard. This in turn made me think of all the other amazing things in this city.